Clasp fastener



June 27, 1967 A. BOUSQUET CLASP FASTENER Filed Nov. 12, 1965 p 11 v'NTOR a I V PATEN AGENE United States Patent 3,327,362 CLASP FASTENERAndre Bousquet, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Clix FastenerCorporation, Montreal, Quebec, (lanada Filed Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No.507,375 3 Claims. (Cl. 2420l) This invention relates to clasp fastenersof the twopart type.

Two part clasp fasteners are widely used for belts, garments and thelike. Such a fastener usually comprises two dissimilar parts, the mostcommon example of which is probably the hook and eye.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clasp fastenerhaving two identical parts, and wherein the two parts may be readily andconveniently associated with each other to provide a positive and securefastening means but which may be easily and quickly separated forunfastening purposes.

The invention may be defined as a clasp fastener comprising twosubstantially identical parts, each said part comprising a unitarymember having opposed side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall, a forwardportion, a rearward portion, a recess extending from one to the other ofsaid side walls said forward and rearward portions having wallsdiverging towards said bottom wall and defining recess, said recesshaving a wall joining said diverging walls and extending in an inclineddirection from one of said side walls towards said bottom wall, anopening in said top wall extending inwardly from the other of said sidewalls and communicating with said recess, and a wall intermediate saidside walls and constituting a terminating wall of said recess inclinedwall and of said opening, said forward portion having a first wallsurface extending in an inclined direction from said terminating wallaway from said bottom wall.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment ofthe invention,

FIGURE 2 is a forward elevation, partly in section, of one part of thefastener,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the fastener in interlocking position,

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the fastener in position for unlockingof the fastener parts, and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified fastener part.

Referring to FIGURES l to 4, the fastener comprises two identical parts10. Each part is a unitary block of, as shown, generally rectangularoutline in plan. It may be formed of any suitable rigid material such asmetal, plastic composition or the like.

Each part has a pair of opposed side walls 11, a bottom wall 12, a topwall 13, a forward portion 14, and a rearward portion 15. Each part alsohas a recess 16 extending from one to the other of side walls 11 anddefined by walls 17 and 18 on the forward and rearward portions anddiverging towards bottom wall 12. The recess also has a wall 19 joiningdiverging walls 17 and 18 and extending from one side wall 11 in aninclined direction towards bottom wall 12.

An opening 20 in top wall 13 extends inwardly from the other side wall11 and communicates with the recess.

A wall 21 intermediate the side walls 11 constitutes a terminating wallof recess wall 19 as well as defining in part the opening 20.

Forward portion 14 has a wall surface 22 extending in an inclineddirection from wall 21 and away from the bottom Wall 12.

Forward portion 14 also has a front wall surface 23 extending frombottom wall 12 in an inclined direction towards top wall 13 and insubstantially parallel relation to wall 17.

A loop 24 may be mounted on rearward portions 15 for attachment to eachpart of the end portion of a belt indicated at 25.

It will be understood that various alternative attachment means may beprovided. For instance, the clasp part 26 shown in FIGURE 5 is similarin all respects to that shown in the other figures but instead of loop24 a groove 27 is provided in rearward portion 15 for reception of agarment edge section to which the part is fixed by clinching movement ofthe groove walls.

In use, one part 10 is tilted with respect to the other part It as shownin FIGURE 4, and the parts placed in laterally offset relation to eachother whereby they may be slid into mating engagement to the point wherewalls 21 of the two parts are in engagement. Thereafter, on release ofthe parts, opposed tension applied thereto will place them in theinterlocked position of FIGURE 3 with each inclined wall surface 22 ofone part in engagement with oppositely inclined wall 19 of the otherpart, and wall 23 of each part in engagement with wall 18 of the otherpart. Disengagement of the parts cannot occur until the parts are tiltedwith respect to each other, as shown in FIGURE 4, and then one partmoved laterally with respect to the other.

The provision of the two parts of the fastener in identical form, witheach part of unitary nature, faciliates manufacturing and assemblingprocedures.

The convenient manner of effecting locking engagement of the parts, aswell as disengagement of the parts, is an advantage in promoting use ofthe fastener. Furthermore, as previously indicated, when the parts arein interlocking engagement they constitute a positive fastening means.

I claim:

1. A clasp fastener comprising two substantially identical parts, eachsaid part comprising a unitary member having opposed side walls, abottom wall, a top wall, a forward portion, a rearward portion, a recessextending from one to the other of said side walls said forward andrearward portions having walls diverging towards said bottom wall anddefining said recess, said recess having a wall joining said divergingwalls and extending in an inclined direction from one of said side wallstowards said bottom wall, an opening in said top wall extending inwardlyfrom the other of said side walls and communicating with said recess,and a wall intermediate said side walls and constituting a terminatingwall of said recess inclined wall and of said opening, said forwardportion having a first wall surface extending in an inclined directionfrom said terminating wall away from said bottom wall.

2. A clasp fastener as defined in claim 1, said forward portion having asecond inclined wall surface extending from said bottom wall towardssaid top wall and in substantially parallel relation to said divergingwall of said recess on said forward portion.

3. A clasp fastener as defined in claim 2, said parts having aninterlocking position, said parts in said position having said inclinedwall surface of said forward portion of each said part in engagementwith said diverging wall of said rearward portion of the other of saidparts, and said inclined wall of said recess of each one of said partsbeing in engagement with said first wall surface of said forward portionof the other of said parts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GELAK, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A CLASP FASTENER COMPRISING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL PARTS, EACHSAID PART COMPRISING A UNITARY MEMBER HAVING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS, ABOTTOM WALL, A TOP WALL, A FORWARD PORTION, A REARWARD PORTION, A RECESSEXTENDING FROM ONE TO THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALLS SAID FORWARD ANDREARWARD PORTIONS HAVING WALLS DIVERGING TOWARDS SAID BOTTOM WALL ANDDEFINING SAID RECESS, SAID RECESS HAVING A WALL JOINING SAID DIVERGINGWALLS AND EXTENDING IN AN INCLINED DIRECTION FROM ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLSTOWARDS SAID BOTTOM